Electrolyte for electrolytic cells.



J. L. R. HAYDEN.

ELEGTROLYTE FOR ELECTROLYTIC CELLS.

APPLIOATION FILED 11113.4, 1908.

996,583. Patented June 27, 1911.

12 Inventor JosehfLh R. Ha den,

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To all whom 11 may concern:

' UNITED STATES PATENT oFmon.

JOSEPH L. R. HAYDEN, SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTROLYTE FOR ELECTROLYTIC CELLS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentgd J 119 2'7, 1911.

Application filed March 4, 1908. Serial No. 419,095.

Be it known that I, J OSEPH L. R. HAYDEN,

I a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State ofNew .York, have invented certa n new and useful Improvements in Electro:

l vtes for Electrolytic Cells, of which the following is a specification. f

This invention concerns the employment in electrolytic cells of. an electrolyte which insures an efficient operation at relatively high voltages, with moderate temperature rise and without appreciable deterioration of the electrodes orthe electrolyte itself.

The electrolyte consists essentially of a The addition of glycerin or milk sugar is advantageous to reduce to a minimum the corro-' sion of the material of the electrodes.

The accompanying sketch shows a typical form of cell;

In the drawing is represented a container 1, which may be of glass or' porcelain, inside of which two electrodes 2 and 3 are suspended in a fiuid electrolyte 4:. The elec-. trolyte, as is well known, serves not only as a conducting medium but is capable of producing upon the surface of one or both electrodes an extremely thin film. This film is presumed to consist of an oxidation product of the material'used for the electrodes. A

cell containing two of thefilm-forming' electrodes possesses all the properties of a static electrical condenser. The films serve as dielectrics and, as in the case of ordinary condensers, they hold the static charge. Should the condenser be subjected to excessive voltages and the film break down, the points of breakdown .are quickly and automatically repaired by the action of the electrolyte in reforming thefilm. If one electrode is madeof some material capable of forming such a. film, as alum1num.anc l the other of some .inert material as carbon, and a current is sent' from the active electrode through the liquid to the inert 'electrode the formation directions. that is, through the electrolyte of this film will very soon check the flow of the current. A current sent'in the opposite from the inert electrode, as carbon, to the active electrode as aluminum,will at once dissolve ofi the film on the active electrode if one already exists, but as no film is formed on the inert electrode the current will continue to pass. The cell. may thus serve as a current valve. As the effectiveness of the electrolytic device depends upon the formation and maintenance of the film, and this in turn upon the peculiar action of the electrolyte, it is important-to secure the most effective electrolyte. Various electrolytes have been used in this connection. Some are objectionable because they attack the. film or metal electrodes when the apparatus is not in use; others are unsatisfactory because the composition, growth, or structure of the'film is such that the voltage which may be applied to the terminals of the cell, without breaking down the dielectric strength of the film, is not as great as may be desired;

The electrolyte which I propose combines ammonia solution containing about 25% XTLOH. The resulting solution is evaporated on a water bath to dryness and until all ammonia smell has disappeared. By this treatment. the ammonia and boric acid combine and are converted to ammonium, octoborate B O ANHQ the most stable form of borate.

The proportions which I have found mostdesirable in making up my electrolyte are 10% octoborateof ammonium. 10% concentrated glycerin, and 80% water. This is just about a saturated solution of octoborate. I find that the addition of glycerin still further reduces the action of the electrolyte .in deteriorating the electrode plates. As the chemistry of the subject is not well understood, I am unable to explain this action on the part of the glycerin. The glycerin may be replaced by milk sugar. Milk sugaris better suited than ordinary sugar. as the ordinary sugar is more liable to ferment. break up, or carbonize. because of it aldehyde character;

What I'claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,- 1. In an electrolytic cell, the combination of electrodes, and an electrolyte consisting essentially of a solution of ammonium octoborate.

2. In an electrolytic cell, the combination of electrodes, and an electrolyte consisting ofa solution of ammonium oetoborate and an organic substance.

3. In an electrolytic cell, the combination of electrodes, and an electrolyte consisting of a solution of ammonium octoborate and glycerin.

4. In an electrolytic condenser, the combination of aluminum electrodes, and an electrolyte separating said electrodes and consisting of a substantially neutral solution of ammonium octoborate.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of February, 1908.

JOSEPH L. R. HAYDEV. Witnesses:

1 HELEN ORFoRn,

BENJAMIN B. HULL. 

